Chief of Police

Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook

William H. Holbrook was appointed Chief of the Columbia Police Department on April 11, 2014. He has more than 27 years of law enforcement experience, of which Chief Holbrook has spent the last 12 years in executive and command positions. Under Chief Holbrook’s leadership, the Columbia Police Department is implementing organizational and operational reforms, which have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) for 21st century policing efforts. In addition, the department has received the S.C. Law Enforcement Officers Association (SCLEOA) SCANA Award of Excellence and has been awarded national accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

Chief Holbrook’s law enforcement career began in 1987, when he was hired by the Charlotte Police Department in North Carolina. He went on to have a distinguished career with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), achieving the rank of Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Southern Piedmont District, Charlotte office. A native of Huntington, West Virginia, Chief Holbrook served for seven years as the Chief of Police for the Huntington Police Department, prior to coming to the Columbia Police Department.

Chief Holbrook earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Marshall University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Pfeiffer University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Police Executive Research Forum’s (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police, the FBI’s National Executive Institute and the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, Senior Executive Institute. Chief Holbrook is also a Furman University, Riley Institute Diversity Fellow.

In addition to serving on several boards and committees, Chief Holbrook is an active member of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association, South Carolina Police Chiefs Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, FBI National Academy Associates, National Executive Institute Association and serves as a member of the SC Governor’s Opioid Emergency Response Team.